Group show
dal 19/4/2002 al 26/5/2002
Segnalato da
19/4/2002
Group show
Smart Project Space, Amsterdam
We don't choose to be born. Thrown into the world by the choice of parents, as soon one comes to the age of awareness, we realize that it is a world which makes little sense; not for humanity in general and even less so for the individual. Life soon reveals itself to be a living towards death.
Artists: Isnasi AballÃ, Bas Jan Ader, Marzia Migliora, Kiki Seror, Dan
Shipsides, Costa Vece
Opening: Saturday April 20, 21.00 hrs
Exhibition from: Sunday April 21, through Sunday May 26, 2002
We don't choose to be born. Thrown into the world by the choice of
parents, as soon one comes to the age of awareness, we realize that it
is a world which makes little sense; not for humanity in general and
even less so for the individual. Life soon reveals itself to be a living towards death. The only meagre point that can be made for our individual
being is that we pass on genes and mortality to our children in order to
maintain the species. But the question as to why there is life to begin
with and why there is a drive to perpetuate it, there would seem to be
no adequate answer.
The only thing we are acutely aware of is that we
have to live and survive. This instinct is ingrained in nature. It has
been the driving force of cultures from their earliest times. The search
to understand our purpose is both the greatest stimulant to life, as
well as the main cause of existential suffering. It is the engine of
philosophy and science, the motive for the creation of art, the breeding
ground for religion and the reason for the use of drugs and the urge to
find solace in sex. The struggle for survival is especially problematic
because we have to deal with numberless perils and difficulties, while
we don't know where to go and what the meaning of it all is.
From
Aristotle to Schopenhauer, philosophy had taught us that the prudent man
would strive for freedom from pain and not for pleasure. He would direct
his aim not to what is pleasant and agreeable, but to the avoidance, as
far as possible, of life's countless evils. Nietzsche however indicated
that fulfilment can't be attained by avoiding pain, but only by
recognizing the role of suffering as an essential and inevitable step on
the way to reaching anything good.
In order to suffer the hardships of
life, it would help to realize that pleasure and displeasure are
intrinsically linked together, so that if we want to have much of one,
we must have as much of the other. Only by endurance of whatever we
cannot avoid, will we reach fulfilment and enjoy life.
For more information or images call Gerbrand van Nijendaal : +31 (0)20
4275951
SMART Project Space
Exhibition Space & Cinema: 1e Const. Huygensstraat 20
Mail to: P.O.Box 15004, NL-1001 MA Amsterdam
Phone: +31 20 427.5951 / 427.5952
Fax.: +31 20 427.5952
SMART Project Space
Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat 20, Amsterdam